Refrigerator



Sept. 21,1937. f* N B. WALES I 21,093,856

REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan. 2l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR.

sept., 21, 1937. N. B. WALES 2,093,856

REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan. 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' I NVENTOR.

Sept. 21, 1937. l N, B, WALES 2,093,856

REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan'. 21, 1955 A4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Sept. 2 1, vi937i -LJNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR 1 Nathaniel B. wales, New York, -N. Y.

'Application January 21: 1935, Serial No. 2,661

i9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in the general form of a domestic refrigerator. Every kitchen requires a kitchen table whereon the food is mixed and prepared. The conventional kitchen of today has an electric refrigerator which is generally some steps distant from such a table. My invention combines the essentials of these two kitchen necessities and in combining them in a practical form of commercial design, 1o it not only saves valuable iioor space in the kitchen but saves the cook many steps to and from the refrigerator in the preparation of a meal.

In making this distinct type of refrigerator for convenience and space saving, I have a further object in mind, the problem of ice cube extraction from ice making trays, for, as and when the refrlgerator is opened by raising the table-top or door equivalent, the ice cubes are automatically freed from the tray and also from its conventional grid or spacer therein and can be taken therefrom without any effort or delay. Moreover, the tray is not complicated or its freezing l capacity reduced in accomplishing this automatic extraction. My invention as illustrated embodies a conventional kitchen table-top of the conventional size, shape and height beneath which may be suspended or positioned the refrigerator chest or chamber and occupying in general a space now unused. The table-top becomes the closure therefor. If, for instance, the cook has many pots, dishes, etc., on the table and requires something in the refrigerator in the course of her preparation of the meal, in one form of my invention, I show a small pedal adapted to be depressed near the base of the table and when so depressed the table-top readily rises in a constantly horizontal plane carrying with it Whatever utensils, etc., maybe on its top, and in this movement, opens the refrigerator so that the cook may take out therefrom whatever is needed and can place it instantly on the top of the table without going to and from the refrigerator as is no'w the custom, or can take olf any container or the like from the table-top which is conveniently in front of her and place it immediately in the refrigerator, and then gently releasing the pedal, lower the table-top, the movement of which in an average4 sized domestic refrigerator might be 5 about eighteen inches in extent, se that the refrlgerator is closed and food preparation may be immediately resumed on the table-top.

Another modification discloses such a combination as described above but is motor operated n so that no physical effort whatever is necessary v the horizontal elevation of the table-top to that' (Cl. (i2-'89) is to coincidently elevate the conventional wire frame shelves on which the food contents rest within the refrigerator and which may be raised integrally with the table-top so that' they come up to a most convenient and accessible position l0 directly opposite the operator in one movement in lieu of being obliged to stoop low down if the shelves were under the table as prior art shows, as, for instance, Patent Number 1,840,645. Safee ty means and means to balance the Weight of the 15 table-top are also provided to make the operation of my invention featherweight in operation and rapid and safe in action. It must be noted that the elevating movement of the shelves is most practical whenA incorporated in a table refriger- 20 ator, as the limitation in the height of a kitchen table necessitates this movement upward of the shelves, to save one considerable physical effort. l Another' modification of my invention restricts area approximately directly over the refrigerator chamber so that in larger sized kitchen tables the weight factor `to be elevated is minimized, yet the refrigerator can be opened within the table-top -l and the contents thereof raised to accessibility and the same facility is attained in handling receptacles in and out of the refrigerator in respect to the table. It is obvious that myI invention can be incorporated Within a table buffet for dining room or office service to advantage.

Inasmuch as the ice freezing trays must actually contact with the vaporizer located in the refrigerated compartment to obtain essentialquick freezing therein and considering the increasing layer of frozen precipitate thereon as normally' occurs in usage, I have made practical provision to take care of these factors. This is especially essential in a refrigerator compartment wherein access is from the top with the shelves rising only as and when the top closure is elevated with all sides of the refrigerated compartment perma- .nently closed. I therefore providek a cradle on which the ice 'trays are slideably supported, but as and when the top closure and shelves are in their lowermost or closed position the cradle-like supports of the ice trays are proportioned to free themselves from the trays as the bottoms of the rays come to repose on the vaporizer. In this manner, a degree of lost motion is provided to compensate for the variable iced or frozen layer on said. vaporizer. Furthermore. the cradle-arms are preferably made slightly inclined to the horizontal plane of the vaporizer tray supporting surface so that when the closure and shelf structure rises due to the inclination of the cradle arms,

they contact the tray first at an end thereof and concentrate the lifting force at this one point more easily freeing thereby the tray from its frozen bond between its bottom and the vaporizer.

In this manner, it is possible to practically free the ice trays whether the shelves are actuated by i'oot, manually or by power means.

A. further object of my invention is the `posi tioning of the entire elevating mechanism outside of the refrigerating chamber, placing it beyond the zone of moisture and permitting the use of a conventional hermetical refrigerating chamber. totally within the chamber and obtains its operative movement by the relative movement of the stationary refrigerating chamber and the In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, itis understood that the drawings will only serve tovshow an illustrative embodiment of my invention in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section of the kitchen table-refrigerator or the like, partly in section, and the extent of the movement of the table-top is shown in dotted lines to clearly show the co-ordination of this movement of the table-top with the refrigerator cabinet together with the elevation of the food shelves therein. The lost motion allowance is also clearly shown between the ice cube tray and its inclined cradle,

as the tray rests on the vaporizer.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation with side panels removed showing the mechanical parts employed to elevate the table-top in a horizontal position by a. pedal or its equivalent. The table-top being in its lowermost position.

Fig. 3 shows the same as Fig. 2 but as and when the' table-top is in an elevated position and with the food shelves likewise elevated and accessible and the supporting cradle for the ice tray shown with its inclination.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of my invention, shown with a motor operated elevating mechanism and showing how the table-top and refrigerator trays can be tipped to one side so that the refrigerator cabinet can be easily cleaned.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the motor safety control pedal to operate the motor operated mechanism, It is to be noted that the motor used as illustrative of a motor operatedmeans A to operate the elevating mechanism may be the same motor, for instance, which operates the refrigerating unit of the refrigerator.

Fig. 6 illustrates a relatively large kitchen tab or the like wherein only that portion approximately directly over the refrigerator can be elevated so as to minimize the weight necessary to be lifted in making the contents of the refrigerator accessible, the refrigerator shelves and ice tray arising with this portion of the table. Fig. 7 is a front sectionof the refrigerated The ice .cube extraction mechanism is refrigerating system.

compartment taken through the refrigerator chamber in Fig. 6 on line A-A and sectionalized to clearly show the-assembly of the ice cube extraction mechanism and its relation to the vaporizer and showing as well theV co-ordination of the permanent parts of the table-tonto that portion elevated and with all the elevating mechanism entirely below the surface of the table.

Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 7 except in showing the exterior side of the refrigerator chamber looking from the end of the table.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, taken along the line B-B in Fig. l0 showing the stationary rack and suitable gear train to operate the ice grid lifting cam during the actual opening of the refrigerator.

Fig. 10 is a front view section of the ice cube freezing tray as it reposes on the vaporizer as' spect-t the tray which is retained by the stops as provided and which relative movement has freed the, grid with its ice cubes from the tray.

Fig. l2 is the same view as Fig. l1 but at a later time during the actual opening `of the refrigerator, the vaporizer being shown at a further distance from the rising ice tray. The ice cubes have contacted with the abutments provided for them which cause the cubes to be sheared from the still rising grid. The cubes are shown just ready to drop backinto the tray entirely free forl usage.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in Fig. 1, numeral 2 is the table top, 3 is the frame vof the table and 4 indicates the legs thereof, 5

is the insulated refrigerated compartment, 6 is a panel with Ventilating cowls to ventilate any conventional refrigerating machine of which 1 represents the electric motor therefor,l and 8 the y wheel of a suitable compressor for such I4 is any conventional insulation surrounding the compartment 5, numeral 9 is the vaporizer or its equivalent shown in an L shaped form on which rests the ice making tray I0 when refrigerator is completely closed. Of course, the vaporizer can be extended along the base of the :compartment 5 and the wire shelves II arranged so that more than one tray can be freezing at the same time. I2 is the insulated portion of the table-top 2 forming the actual closure of compartment 5.

Numeral I3 is the sealing joint of closure I2, utensils I5 arel shown on the table-top and are shown still reposing on the table-top as and when the table-top 2 rises to position shown in dotted lines 2-A carrying 1. it the wire shelves II-A and the ice tray to position IIL-A. Drawers may be arranged in the table as at i6. Side metal panels I1 hide the table-top lifting meehanism. Numeral I 8 illustrates any suitable foot pedal journaled in bearing i9 attached to the table leg 4, see Figs. 2 and 3.

The pedal I8 is rigidly secured to arm ZI in which is journaled the link 20 which is journaled at its other end at 22 on link 26 which is itself across the rear of the table to the other end thereof to actuate companion linkage thereat. The long rigid shaft 24 is journaled in two companion bearings secured to the table at 34. A short arm integral with link 26 has secured to it 5 'under tensionthe spring 23 which has predetermined tension to balance the weight of the tabletop, closure, shelves, mechanism and ice tray. The link 26 is pivoted at 32 to its companion link 3i forming a, so-called lazy tongs movement, 10 the links26 and 3i terminating at 21 and 28,

in inverted V shaped guides 29 and 30 respectively, while the link 3| terminates at its other end in a xed bearing 33 secured' to the table-- top. An automatic stop or latch mechanism is l5 incorporated in the side of link 20 on which are contact arms 36 and 31. A pin 39 is rigidly Vsecured to the side of the table and journals a tumbler block 38, a latch 4I is also journaled on pin 39 and a spring 46 is secured at one end to 38 and 2@ at its other end to 4l. The assembly makes a snap action mechanism such that on depressing pedal i8 the table-top and its assembly rises to the indicated dotted-lines andthe latch 4I contacts into recess 463 in link 20, and the table-top 5 is held in said position. A further depression of the pedal i8 causesarm 36 to hit tumbler block 38 and turn it on its journal pin 39 causing the spring 40 to shift its tension in respect to latch il so that it rises out of the path of recess 44 3@ so that the table-top can be readily lowered by lessening the pressure on pedal I8.

Just before the-table-top reaches its bottom position, arm 31 contacts with the tumbler block 38 restoring the snap action mechanisml to its B5 original position to again lock the table-top in its top position as and when again elevated.

Referring to Fig. 4, I show the same type of elevating mechanism for illustrative purposes as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but now operated by power, 40 as, for example, any electric motor 45 operating through a gear reduction worm 46 and worm wheel 41. Numeral 46 represents any conventional friction disc clutch on shaft 49, on which the worm wheel 61 is also fixed. On the front a5 disc plate of the disc clutch 48 is the crank pin 59 on which is journaledthe link 50 which connects into the identical elevating mechanis-znas has already been described.

The safety foot switch to operate the motor is 50 illustrated in Fig. 5 with enlarged wiring diagram therefor, comprising a double pedal with foot contacts 53 and 54 and journaled on pin 55 secured to table leg 3. By the twin contacts 51 and 58, and 59 and 66, respectively, the motor can be 55 started forward or reversedor stopped by taking E the foot. The spring 6l secured to and under tension from arm 63 to fixture 6I causes thel pedal switch to assume 'the position as illustrated, stopping the motor. 'I'he wiring is conventional be- 60 tween the motor and switch contacts to reverse the field of the motor.

A valuable land essential function is accomplished as illustrated in dotted lines2a and Ila in Fig. 4. It is necessary to be able to clean the 65 inside of the refrigerated compartment 5. If the elevating mechanism only providedl for'an elevating movement, it would be very diilicult and awkward to do this periodical cleaning, so I have provided in the elevating mechanism the possibil- 70 ity of laterally displacing the table-top, closure,

shelves and assembly to one side of the compartment top opening when in an elevated position So that one can easily reach down into the com- .16 partment to clean it. I utilize a conventional latch l co-operating with pin 52 to hold the assembly in this ou set position.

In Fig. l, numeral 30 shows an open topped or V shaped guide for link 26 which permits the table-top to be easily tipped backward as above described. It is obvious that the motor 45 in Fig. 4 might be the motor 1 in Fig.- 1, that is, I can utilize the motor operating the refrigerating machine to open and close the refrigerator closure by emplacing on motor shaft 35, see Fig. 1, any conventional and suitable reversible clutch with reduction gear to amplify the torque of the motor shaft, and when either of the press buttons, as are shown in Fig. 6, numerals 63 and 64, are

pressed the electric circuit is closedwith the re- .inthis embodiment of my invention, Idisclose the. automatic mechanism and 4means to shear free the ice cubes in the tray-during the opening of the refrigerator. The mechanism and method involved in this function is more clearly shown `in the enlarged Figs. 9, l0, 11 and 12, in which numeral 65 illustrates any suitable ice-making tray, and shownl in Figs. 9 and 10 at its bottom position resting on the vaporizer 9 to give 'quick freezing.

In Fig. 9, numerals 66 represent the cross grid Y partitions in the tray-65, While in Fig. 10, nu-

merals 66 represent the lengthwise partitions of the same grid. Numerals 61 are the twin inclined cradle arms that sustain the tray 65 as and when it rises on the opening of the refrigerator. The arms 61 are secured to the shelf structure i l. 'Ihestamped steel partition 68 secured to the frame' Il provides stops or abutments to linut the upward movement of the tray 65 as and when the grid is forced upward bythe cams 10 on shaft 1i, aswell as forming stops for the individual ice cubes 12 at points 69. A suitable gear train operatively connects the cam shaft 1l with the stationary rack 14.- 'I'he lengthwise grid partitions 66 extend upward above the cross grid partitions and terminate in T shaped heads 15 which are normally "slideable in the extended yoked plates 16, which have a. central opening 11 in which the cam 1| engages when turned by the gear train 13. This central position proportions equally the upward force.

At the first movement upward of the shelf structure H, there being clearance provided between the inclined cradle 61 and the abutment 68, the tray nally comes intofA contact rst at its rear end with the inclined cradle 61, see Fig. 9, and the frozen bond between the tray and the vaporizer is more -easily broken due to this momentary concentration of the lift energy'at its rear end. This lost motion factor or tolerance between the tray and element 61 and 68 takes' before starting to disrupt the frozen bond of the' tray.

Referring to Fig. 11, `this illustrates the action just after the shelf structure has started to rise carrying with it the gear train 'i3 suitably journaled therein. The cams 1l have slightly rolifted off its inclined cradle' supports il, but has come to a stop as it contacts with abutment 6I. 'Ihe continued rise of the grid under action of cam 1l sets up a high pressure between the ice frozen in the grid and the tray, so that theice in the grid due to its greater extent of bonding surface therein, as compared to the interior tray surface, is freed from the tray and the tray drops back on the inclined cradle arms G1, see Fig. 12. With the continued rotation of cam 1l, the ice cubes still frozen in the grid come into contact with the individual cube 'abutments' 69 and great pressureissetupontheicecubesinthegrid, shearing them free therefrom-whereupon they fall back into the tray entirely free. 'Ihis vertical movement of the grid is approximately of an inch -and may take place during the extent of the shelf structures elevation consisting of say 18 inches, so'that the cam contour can be made' to multiply the lifting vforce of the grid to a very great extent. Byproper engineering proportion and design, adequate strength of grid structure and abutments is provided for. When the refrigerator closure is completely opened.

thetrayand gridcanbeeasilypulledout together as in an ordinary ice tray and the'eubes dumped or picked out ofl the tray. y

Considering the operationAV of my invention and taking Fig. 6 as representative of its disclosure: n pressing the button indexed Open, the motor is set into motion, if a separate motor is used, to open the refrigerator and free the ice cubes,

- or, if the motor operating the refrigerating machine is used, a suitable'clutch and gear reduction is engaged thereby to connect it with the tabletop lifting mechanism as already described in' detail. With the upward movement of the shelf structure within the compartment 5, the gear train 13 engaging rack Il turns the cams il -which force upward the grid, shearing the ice are taken from thetray, the grids movement up.

or down is not suflicient to cause a dislocation of zthe cubesinthegridormtnemy. careshouid,

be taken to properly fill the tray with water so that the relative movements therein will be ef- V ,fective to completely free the ice cubes as and when frozen.

g .what I desire reclamano protect by United mA States Letters Patent is encompassed in the following claims:

A, 1. A refrigerator comprising an insulated compartment having an opening thereto in its top and provided with a closure therefor and sulL porting means Afor -food containers in said compertinent secured to said closure. a vaporising chamber in said insulated compartment and an ice making tray rating on said vaporizer, and means to elevate said closure and said food supporting means above the top of said compartment and inclined supporting means secured to saidclosuretoraisethesaidicetrayfromssid vaporizer, iirst, at one of its ends to break the frozen bond therebetween as and when said closure rises.

2. A refrigerator comprising an insulated compartment having a closure therefor and a chambercontainingafreexlngmixturewithinsaid compartment, an ice making tray in operative proximity to said freezing chamber and having a grid thereintoformice cubesinsaid tray means connected with the openingof-said closure to elevate said grid from said tray to shear the ice bond formed therebetween.

v 3. A refrigerator comprising an insulated compartment having a closure therefor and a chamber 'containing a freezing mixture within said compartment, an ice making tray in operative proximity to said freezing chamber and havinga grid therein to form ice cubes'in said tray means synchronizing with the opening of said closuretoelevatesaidgridfromsaidtrsyto shear the ice bond formed therebetween.

4. A refrigerator comprising an insulated compartment having a lclosure therefor and a chamber containing a freezing mixture withinsaid compartment, an ice making tray in operative proximitytosaidfreeaingchamberandhavinga gridthereintoformicecubesinsaidtraand compartment. an ice making tray in operative proximity to said freezing chamber having a grid thereintoformi cubesinsaidtray,and power means to elevate said grid in said tray and meanstohold saidtray stationarytoshearthe ice bond existing therebetween. and means to prevent said cubes rising in said grid beyond a predetermined point to also shear the ice bond existingbetweenthecuhandsaidgrid.

6. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerated .compartment having an opening thereto on its Saidtablmnndanlnslilfeddilretotldd,

iopeninsinsaidtandmeansexrinr for food containers therein, a vaporizing chamber in said compartment, a table-top integral with said compartment and encompassing said aperture in said compartment, and an insulated closure to t said aperture, and pedal means exterior to said compartment to elevate said closure and said food supporting means in a horizontal plane above said table-top.

9. A refrigerator comprising an insulated rc' frigerated compartment having an aperture thereto through its top side and provided with supporting means for food containers therein, a vaporizing chamber'in said compartment, a tabletop encompassing said aperture in said compartment, and an insulated closure to fit said aperture, and means to elevate said closure together with said food supporting means in a horizontal plane above said table-top, and hinged means to`displace laterally in respect to said aperture said closure and said food supporting means when in said elevated position.

10. A refrigerator comprising an insulated refrigerated compartment having an opening thereto in its top and provided with meansvfor 25 supporting food containers therein, a vaporizer in said compartment, an ice making tray in said supporting means, a closure for said opening, and means to vertically elevate said closure in a horizontal plane, said food supporting means and 30 said tray secured to the bottom of said closure and adapted to rise with said closure above the level of the top of said refrigerated compartment.

and hinged means to laterally displace said food supporting means and said tray andsaid closure 35 when in said raised position.

11. A refrigerator comprising an insulated refrigerated compartment having an opening thereto in `its top and provided with shelves for supporting food containers therein, an insulated table-top adapted to close said opening, a vaporizer in said insulated compartment, 'and motor operated means to vertically elevate said tabletop in a horizontal plane, said shelves secured to the bottom of said table-top and adapted to rise with said table-top above the level of the top of said refrigerated compartment, and manual means to laterally move said closure and said shelves in respect to said opening in said compartment when in said elevated position.

12. A refrigerator comprising `an insulated vaporizlng chamber within said compartment, an

f y ice making tray in operative proximity to' said vaporizer, and a grid therein to form ice cubes in said tray,motive actuated means to elevate.

- said grid in said tray, and abutments positioned a grid in saidy tray to'form ice cubes` therein.

motive actuated means to elevate said grid in said compartment having al closure therefor and a tray, and means to restrain said tray against the upward force exerted by the bond of ice between said tray and said grid.

14. A refrigerator comprising an insulated compartment having a closureV therefor and a vaporizing chamber within -said compartment, an ice making tray in operative proximity to said vaporizer, and a grid therein to form ice.

cubes in said tray, mechanically actuated means to elevate said grid in said tray, and abutments positioned above said ice cubes to limit their upward movement in respect to the elevation of said grid.

15.A refrigerator comprising anV insulated compartment, a closure therefor, an ice making tray in said compartment, and a vaporizing an ice making tray in operative proximity to said vaporizer, and a grid therein to form ice cubes in said tray, mechanically actuated means to elevate said 'grid in said tray, and abutments positioned above said ice cubes to limit their upward movement in respect to the elevation of said grid, and means to restrain said tray against the upward force exerted by the bond of ice between said tray .and said grid.

17. In refrigerating apparatus of the class described, comprising an ice making tray, a grid ,therefor to make ice cubes therein, `a series of abutments positioned -above said tray, means for producing relative movement between the grid and the tray and .said abutments to sequently release the cubes from the tray and then the cubes from the grid. I

18. Inrefrigerating apparatus of the class described, comprising an ice making tray, a grid therein to make ice cubes, and an evaporator beneath `said tray, \and a series of abutments positioned above said tray, means for producing relative movement between the grid, the tray and the evaporator and said abutments to sequently release the tray from the evaporator, the cubes-from the tray, and then the cubes from the grid.

19. In refrigerating apparatus of the class described, comprising anice making tray, a grid therefor tov make ice cubes therein, a series of abutments positioned above `said tray to indivvidu'ally'contact with said ice cubes, means for 

